Gum massage device



Dec. 31, 1957 R. A. BIRCH GUM MASSAGE DEVICE Filed Aug. 2, 1955 INVENTO'R POBLUPTAEBIRCH 1 r Arron/Ev? United States PatefitO 2,818,061 P, ennnrssnerniavice Robert A. Birch, Larchmont, N. Y. pvrcaioaeu nsriass. stain... ssraz.

- 1 Claim. c1. 128-62) The present invention relates to a gum massage device.

It is a well known fact, that the gums of human beings recede due to the lack of proper blood circulation. When the blood circulation in the gums becomes restricted or dormant, the gums recede, the teeth become loose and in time have to be extracted.

One way of activating the gums is by the use of the fingers, and this is helpful to a certain degree in providing some blood circulation. By using the fingers, the outer gums can be massaged, but it is impossible to properly massage the inner gums.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device that will massage the inner and outer gums simultaneously to stimulate the proper blood supply to the gums.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means associated with the device that will massage the gums between the teeth, and the gingival tips of the gums.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a device having means that will assist in pulling the upper gums down and the lower gums up, to bring them back to their natural position, or to retain them in their natural position.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a device that will stimulate the blood supply to the gums and prevent the receding of the gums.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a device having four point contact with the gums.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a device that will gently massage the gums without damaging them.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of means upon which the massage means are mounted.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of resilient tapering gum massage means.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the gum massaging elements positioned in the mouth, the gums and teeth being shown in dotted lines, the massage elements in contact with the upper and lower gums.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a modified form of the invention, illustrating flat fingers and massage elements.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an end elevational view of one of the fingers of the modified form of the invention and showing the massage pad.

Referring to the drawing the numeral 10 represents the massage device, and it comprises a body or handle 11, having arms 12 and 13. The arm 12 is provided with an enlarged portion 14, the outer face having a concave 2' recess 15 toireceive-the thumb of ahuman hand. From the enlarged portion 14 there extends a finger 16 that is of 'a reduced thickness,'-providing a thin flat means that will easily passrbetweenf the :upper and lower teeth, and allow the mouth to be almosticlosed when part of the massage deviceflis in the -inrier part of the mouth. The end of the finger 16 isprovided with a vertical element 17 that is integral with thegfinger.

The' arm 13' is provided with ;a finger 1 8,and it is to i be noted that it is thicker in cross-section than the finger 16, the outer face or wall =;19.being slightly curved, providing a gripping means for the fingers of a human hand. The end of finger 18 is also provided with a vertical element 20 that is identical withthe element 17 and integral with the finger. Elements 17 and 20 are each provided with a plurality of notches $21 that serve as a securing means for resilient pads 22, 23, 24 and that may be molded or otherwise secu'redto the elements 17 and 20. The resilient pads 22, 23; 24 and 25 are provided with tapering bristles 26 that'j may be of any suitable soft resilient material. It is to be noted, that the resilient bristles 26 and pads 22 and 24 are less in number than on pads 23 and 25, fori'the reason the inner area of the mouth is smaller and the smaller pads provide a comfortable, gentle massage means for the inner gums.

In the modified formiof the invention illustrated in Figure 4, the arms 31 of the body or handle are of approximately uniform lwidth and thickness, having fingers 32 that are thirrand flat, similar to finger 16. The outer side walls 33 of" each finger is of a slight arcuate configuration, providingg a thickened portion for finger gripping. On each finger there is provided a vertical element 34 having notches 35 that serve as anchoring means for resilie iit pads 36 that may be molded or otherwise secured to the vertical elements, the pad being provided with tapering bristles 37.

In the use of the device as shown in Figures 1 and 3, the arms and fingers are in an open position. When the device is to be used in massaging the gums, the pads 22 and 24 are inserted into the mouth as shown in Figure 3, the bristles 26 of the pads engaging the upper and lower gums. Simultaneously e pads 23 and 25 engage the upper and lower walls t the outer gums. The pads are brought into contact w the inner and outer gums by compressing the arms a I fingers of the body until the bristles 26 are brought' into contact with the gums. The device is then operated in a horizontal motion forward and backward, the bristles 26 gently massaging one-half side of the mouth. After this operation, the device is then operated in an upward and downward or vertical movement. This operation tends to pull the upper gums down if they have receded, and if they have not, tends to retain them in their natural position. This operation also tends to pull the lower gums up if they have receded or retain them in their natural position. The provision of the fiat finger 16 provides a means on the massage device that is easily manipulated between the teeth so that the user does not have to hold his mouth open, that is wide open when using the device. By providing a flat finger, the device is capable of massaging the entire gum structure due to the ease in which it can be operated.

In the modified form of the invention, the pads 36 are so arranged that the inner and outer upper gums may be massaged, and by reversing the position of the device, the inner and outer lower gums may be massaged, the fiat fingers requiring a minimum of clearance between the teeth after the pads are positioned in the mouth. An advantage also of the modified form of the invention is that it can be manufactured and sold within the reach of everyone.

Due to the structure of the device, it can be seen that it may at all times be maintained in a hygienic condition.

What is claimed is:

A gum massaging device comprising a handle having a pair of coplanar arms, resili'ent connecting means normally holding said arms apart, a finger at the end of each arm, at least one of said fingers being of reduced thickness in the direction normal to the plane of the arms whereby the finger will work freely between the teeth for properly guiding the massaging movement of the device, vertical elements mounted at the fr'e' e ends of said fingers and at right angles to the plane of the arms, and extending equally to both sides of said plane, said elements having notches in the sides thereof and resilient massaging pads mounted on the ends of said elements over said notches for contact with the opposite sides of the gums and teeth of both jaws.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

